Acquisitions and Fiscal Management Librarian

Located in culturally diverse, historic, and dynamic Richmond, Virginia, convenient to the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the recreation destinations of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University is one of Virginia's largest universities and among the nation's leading research institutions. The VCU Libraries, one of Virginia’s outstanding research library systems, advances the University’s teaching, research, service, and patient care mission with 2.5 million volumes, 61,000 serials, 600,000 e-books, and nationally prominent collections in the health and biological sciences, social work, the arts, the history of medicine, and comic and book arts.

The Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries invites applications and nominations for the position of Acquisitions and Fiscal Management Librarian. This re-defined position will join a reorganized division tailored to take advantage of Alma, today’s most advanced library system operational at only a handful of sites. As one of Alma’s first Early Adopters, VCU Libraries has been in a unique position to shape this cloud-based system in a way that will enable research libraries to thrive in the age of digital publishing and services. The person in this position will be at the heart of the transformation to structure the organization and workflows of the VCU Libraries to take advantage of Alma’s powerful potential. The librarian we are seeking must be able to articulate and implement a compelling vision of how the modern research library can remain relevant in an increasingly competitive digital world. The successful candidate will join a culturally and academically diverse faculty of the highest caliber.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Head of the Collection Analysis and Investment Department, the Acquisitions and Fiscal Management Librarian will supervise a staff of six responsible for ordering all library materials and for managing the bibliographic fiscal system. Exercises budget oversight over all acquisitions funds, including gifts and endowments; collaborates with supervisor and with consortial partners in negotiations with publishers and vendors to secure the most advantageous pricing for the Commonwealth. Using a data-driven approach, works with key stakeholders to develop, monitor, and track budget to best utilize library resources. Designs efficient workflows to take advantage of new processing capabilities of Alma; manages license agreements and develops Alma’s capabilities as a license repository; develops analytical reports to ensure transparency and fiscal compliance with all university, state, and federal requirements. The Acquisitions and Fiscal Management Librarian is expected to be active professionally and to contribute to developments in the field. Faculty with the VCU Libraries are evaluated, and promoted, on the basis of job performance, scholarship, and professional development and service.

Qualifications

Required: ALA-accredited graduate degree or accredited graduate degree in another appropriate discipline, such as accounting or business management. Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU. Preferred: At least two years of progressively responsible experience in the acquisitions or collections department of an academic research library working with publishers, subscription agents, and vendors; familiarity with approval plans, electronic resource management, EDI, demand driven acquisitions, and other contemporary acquisitions related tools and best practices; working knowledge of major integrated library systems, as well as Banner or other major university accounting system; understanding of current trends in library acquisitions, academic publishing industry, and open access alternatives; strong organizational, planning, and budgeting skills; supervisory experience; initiative and creativity, willingness to cooperate and to share information, and the ability to meet deadlines and manage competing priorities under pressure; ability to work independently as well as part of a team; strong service orientation; excellent oral and written communication skills.

Virginia Commonwealth University and the VCU Libraries

Virginia Commonwealth University is Virginia’s largest research university, enrolling nearly 32,000 students. Located in Richmond, Virginia (http://www.vcu.edu/richmond/), VCU offers 41 doctoral, 74 masters, 3 professional, and 64 baccalaureate degree programs. Thirty-two of VCU's graduate, professional programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report as among the best in the nation, with 19 programs ranking in the top 25 and two programs — sculpture and nurse anesthesia — ranked number one. Over 3,200 faculty comprise the University's teaching force. Research strengths at the University include health and life sciences, education, engineering, social work, behavioral sciences, public affairs, advertising and design, and the fine arts. Sponsored research funding totals over $260 million, placing VCU among the top 100 research institutions in the United States. VCU’s strategic plan embraces an acceleration in the growth of VCU’s library system and includes a new Master Site Plan that envisions additions to both library facilities operated by the VCU Libraries. Architectural work has begun on a major addition to and renovation of the James Branch Cabell Library that is expected to open in 2015.

Libraries at Virginia Commonwealth University (including the James Branch Cabell Library on the Monroe Park Campus and the Tompkins-McCaw Library for the Health Sciences on the MCV Campus) employ 51 professionals and 90 support staff with an annual budget exceeding $17.5 million. VCU also operates programs in Doha, Qatar, including a library supporting the program there, Northern Virginia, and in various additional locations throughout the U.S. and the world. The VCU Libraries is a Resource Library in the National Network of Libraries of Medicine and a member of the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries, SPARC, CNI, BioMed Central, and the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA), a statewide networking consortium for shared access to electronic and print resources. The VCU Libraries has adopted Primo as its discovery layer and is one of the first libraries worldwide to have implemented Alma as its next generation cloud-based system for library management. CONTENTdm and DSpace supplement the foundation of its system architecture to enhance access to its collections and services.

Salary: Salary commensurate with experience, not less than $50,000 annually. This is a full-time, non-tenured faculty position. Normal faculty benefits apply, including 24 vacation days annually and choice of retirement and annuity plans. For more information about benefits, see http://www.hr.vcu.edu/benefits/.

For more information about the VCU Libraries, please visit our home page at http://www.library.vcu.edu/. Review of applications will begin April 29, 2013, and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications must be received prior to May 22, 2013. Submit cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references to:

Pamela H. Fraga

Assistant to the University Librarian

VCU Libraries, Virginia Commonwealth University

901 Park Avenue

PO Box 842033

Richmond, VA 23284-2033

804-828-1107

804-828-0151 (fax)

phfraga@vcu.edu

Virginia Commonwealth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.